New Toyota Prado displays rugged elegance
Nov 5, 2009 By Toyota Australia.
Toyota's next-generation
LandCruiser Prado will straddle two seemingly incompatible markets when it goes on sale later this month.
New Prado is tougher yet more refined - or, in Toyota speak, it embraces the concept of 'rugged elegance'.
This means state-of-the-art driver-assist technologies will extend Prado's off-road capabilities, while occupants will be cosseted through advanced convenience, comfort and safety features.
In fact, new Prado is more capable in all driving conditions while also offering premium features usually found in luxury cars.
So, for customers who want an extremely competent off-roader or a luxurious family vehicle - or both - the 'rugged elegance' of Prado is the ideal choice.
Fourth-generation Prado continues LandCruiser's reputation for being robust and virtually indestructible.
Enhanced driveability and technologies will make new Prado more accessible to everyday drivers, while retaining its off-road credentials.
Special attention to handling, stability and ride comfort have raised Prado to new levels of user compatibility.
For the first time in Australia, Prado will come as a sporty three-door as well as a five-door family wagon.
Fuel economy has been significantly improved across with board, which means its emissions are lower.
Prado's 4.0-litre six-cylinder petrol engine now has dual VVT-i, which has helped boost its maximum power at least 10 per cent to more than 200kW.
The 3.0-litre direct-injection turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine gains new injectors and improved cooling efficiency from a front-mounted intercooler.
It has an extremely flat torque curve, which makes it ideal for tough off-road conditions.
Both engines can be matched to six-speed manual or five-speed sequential-shift automatic transmissions.
Safety is vital with all new Prado models equipped with seven airbags, Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), All-terrain Traction Control (A-TRC) and anti-skid brakes (ABS) with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) and brake assist (BA).
Comfort and convenience features across the range include air-conditioning, cruise control, alloy wheels and keyless Smart Entry and Smart Start.
For the 'Net generation, there is Bluetooth[sup]TM[/sup]* hands-free mobile telephone capability, USB auxiliary input and iPod (tm) ^ control.
Most Prado variants have a rear-view camera and climate-control air-conditioning, which extends to three zones when fitted to seven-seat five-door models.
The third-row seat, which is power-operated on upper models, folds into the floor to leave a flat surface for luggage.
At the top of the range, customers have the option of a Pre-Crash safety System and radar cruise control.
These systems use a millimetre-wavelength radar sensor at the front of the vehicle to track the relative speed, distance and angle to object ahead of new Prado.
When PCS detects a collision is imminent, it triggers systems that prepare the car to help reduce injuries and damage.
In an extreme situation, it can apply the brakes even if the driver has not touched the brake pedal.
The radar cruise-control system helps the driver maintain an appropriate distance from the vehicle in front - particularly useful on freeways and highways.
It can automatically slow the vehicle to maintain the desired distance from another vehicle and automatically accelerate back to the set cruise-control speed when the road ahead is clear.
Prado's off-road capability starts with the basics - a new high-strength ladder-frame chassis and a lockable Torsen centre differential. A rear differential lock is fitted to the top-of-the-range five-door and three-door variants.
Upper models gain a new electronic Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (KDSS) that adjusts the front and rear anti-roll bars for optimised roll rigidity.
KDSS provides excellent vehicle stability during on-road driving and allows greater wheel articulation to help maintain traction in challenging off-road situations.
Range-topping models include CRAWL control - in effect, a low-speed cruise-control system that is particularly useful for negotiating the toughest conditions such as deep sand or thick mud.
They are also equipped with a four-camera Multi-Terrain Monitor for checking blind spots and for revealing terrain hazards and apexes normally hidden from the driver's view.
Multi-Terrain Select (MTS) is newly available. Incorporating Multi-Terrain ABS, the system offers a wide range of slip control, providing maximum traction for situations involving mud and sand, loose rocks, moguls and rocks.
Downhill Assist Control (DAC) maintains vehicle speed to ensure vehicle stability when descending slopes, while Hill-start Assist Control (HAC) minimises vehicle roll-back when the vehicle starts to ascend a steep incline or slippery surface.
Toyota's Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS) system with Roll Posture Control lets the driver tune the ride characteristics with a choice of three damper settings.
An electronically controlled rear air suspension system provides an auto-levelling function and switchable height control.
A new Steering Angle Display in the instrument panel indicates the angle of the front wheels and their predicted path, further helping the driver plot a safe route.
Next-generation Prado features new styling.
It is slightly longer and wider than the previous model while the roofline is slightly lower, giving new Prado a wide, planted stance.
The revised styling of new Toyota Prado has resulted in a vehicle which appears more aggressive and which features improved aerodynamics.
Aerodynamic aids include the lower overall height and the inclusion of front and rear spoilers, front spats, under-body covers and deflectors.
A three-dimensional vertical grille has evolved from the current model, giving an increased sense of depth and texture.
Cylindrical high-beam headlamps and projector type low-beam headlamps complement the three-dimensional profile of the clearance and turn signal lamps.
The high position of the grille and headlamps combine with the outwardly extended turn signals to create a wide, distinctively LandCruiser-like Prado face.
From the side view, the belt line is higher and the cowl has been moved forward to provide maximum interior space.
The sharply trimmed lower section of the bumpers makes the overhangs look shorter, for a more agile image.
The door mirrors have integrated LED indicators.
The rear combination lamps also use LEDs, which activate more quickly than conventional lamps.
A body-coloured rear spoiler houses the rear window wiper.
Australia is the fourth-largest LandCruiser market in the world. More than 150,000 LandCruiser Prados are expected to be on the road by the end of the year.
Prado first arrived in Australia in 1996 and quickly secured a firm foothold in the mid-size SUV market.
It was Australia's best-selling SUV overall in 2008.
The medium SUV segment has grown markedly in recent years with sales more than doubling from just 33,468 in 2002 to a record of 75,485 last year.
This year, the segment has basically moved with the overall industry average.
*Bluetooth[sup]TM[/sup] is a registered trademark of Bluetooth SIG, Inc.
^ iPod (tm) is a registered trademarks of Apple Inc.